Quality of Life Outcomes of Military Burn Patients

(41st Biennial Convention) Background: There is limited research examining quality of life (QOL) among burn survivors during post-hospitalization rehabilitation. The Roy Adaptation Model guided the research.
Methods: A prospective, repeated measures design examined QOL in 77 burn survivors from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. A paired t-test compared data from burn unit discharge (DC) and 3 months post-DC. These data are part of a larger study following participants 18 months post-DC. Participants completed the Abbreviated Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS-A) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).
Results: Most participants were men (76/99%), with a mean age of 25.5, who were Caucasian (53/69%), single (36/47%). and possessed a high school education (43/55%) or some college (28/36%). Most were in the Army (57/74%) and had been in the military for 3.5-5 years. A majority were victims of improvised implosive devices (53%); and the mean total body surface area burned was 24.24% (median=17.25%), with 14.5% full thickness burns. The average length of stay in the burn unit was 46 days. The paired t-test demonstrated that SWLS scores did not change from burn unit DC to 3 mo post-DC and that participants were satisfied with their lives overall. The BSHS total score was statistically significantly correlated with SWLS both at DC and 3 months (r=.41 at DC, p< .000/ r=.65 at 3 mo, p< .000). Also, the participants reported significantly improved QOL over 3 months on the total BSHS-A score (t=3.37, df=70, p< .001) and several domains or subscales of the BSHS-A.
Discussion & Implications for Nursing: Discharge from the burn unit marks the beginning of a lengthy adjustment process for service members with burn injuries. Improvements in perceived physical and role function occur during the first 3 months post burn unit discharge; however, burn patients should be followed longitudinally to better understand rehabilitation QOL.

Full metadata record

DC Field

Value

Language

dc.type

Presentation

en_GB

dc.title

Quality of Life Outcomes of Military Burn Patients

en_GB

dc.identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10755/202294

-

dc.description.abstract

(41st Biennial Convention) Background: There is limited research examining quality of life (QOL) among burn survivors during post-hospitalization rehabilitation. The Roy Adaptation Model guided the research.
Methods: A prospective, repeated measures design examined QOL in 77 burn survivors from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. A paired t-test compared data from burn unit discharge (DC) and 3 months post-DC. These data are part of a larger study following participants 18 months post-DC. Participants completed the Abbreviated Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS-A) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).
Results: Most participants were men (76/99%), with a mean age of 25.5, who were Caucasian (53/69%), single (36/47%). and possessed a high school education (43/55%) or some college (28/36%). Most were in the Army (57/74%) and had been in the military for 3.5-5 years. A majority were victims of improvised implosive devices (53%); and the mean total body surface area burned was 24.24% (median=17.25%), with 14.5% full thickness burns. The average length of stay in the burn unit was 46 days. The paired t-test demonstrated that SWLS scores did not change from burn unit DC to 3 mo post-DC and that participants were satisfied with their lives overall. The BSHS total score was statistically significantly correlated with SWLS both at DC and 3 months (r=.41 at DC, p< .000/ r=.65 at 3 mo, p< .000). Also, the participants reported significantly improved QOL over 3 months on the total BSHS-A score (t=3.37, df=70, p< .001) and several domains or subscales of the BSHS-A.
Discussion & Implications for Nursing: Discharge from the burn unit marks the beginning of a lengthy adjustment process for service members with burn injuries. Improvements in perceived physical and role function occur during the first 3 months post burn unit discharge; however, burn patients should be followed longitudinally to better understand rehabilitation QOL.

en_GB

dc.subject

Military
Quality of Life
Burns

en_GB

dc.date.available

2012-01-11T11:20:36Z

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dc.date.issued

2012-01-04

en_GB

dc.date.accessioned

2012-01-11T11:20:36Z

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dc.description.sponsorship

Sigma Theta Tau International

en_GB

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